Indiana coach Lin Dunn said the Fever dedicated Sunday's game to Katie Douglas.

"[We] know that she's watching and thrilled to death that we were able to steal this game," Dunn said after Indiana beat the Lynx 76-70 in Game 1 of the best-of-five WNBA Finals.

Douglas was not at Target Center. The veteran guard was in Indianapolis, being treated for a sprained left ankle. The injury happened Thursday in the Fever's series-clinching victory at Connecticut.

Her status for Game 2 remains in doubt. Douglas was the Fever's second-leading scorer, averaging 16.5 points, during the regular season.

Indiana lost twice to the Lynx in mid-September, and in the Finals the Fever needed to win at least one game in Minnesota to dethrone the defending champions.

Now the home-court advantage in the Finals that the Lynx had earned as the top seed in the playoffs is gone.

Kyndell Harkness, Star Tribune

Maya Moore collided with Lynx assistant coach Jim Peterson on the sideline as she chased a loose ball late in Sunday’s game at Target Center. The Lynx were surprised by Indiana in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, making Game 2 almost a must win.

A long series

Center Taj McWilliams-Franklin said the Lynx will look at video and see what changes need to be made.

"It [the Finals] is not decided in one game," said McWilliams-Franklin after her 61st playoff game, a league record by three appearances. "It's not decided in two. The team that gets to three first wins.

"It is really good for both teams. You clean up some things, do things better, you fix things and you move on. You don't dwell long on wins or losses."

Dissecting disastrous fourth

The Lynx had a 58-56 lead going into the fourth quarter. They have lost only once this season -- to Seattle in the playoffs -- when ahead or tied at that juncture.

But after Lindsay Whalen scored on a layup 62 seconds into the fourth quarter to restore a two-point lead, the Lynx missed their next 12 shots. Indiana's lead was 72-63 by the time the Lynx made their next basket, Maya Moore's three-pointer with 1 minute, 20 seconds left.

Indiana outscored the Lynx 20-12 the final quarter. The Lynx were 2-for-17 from the field, Moore 1-for-7.

One offensive possession in the middle of the quarter best sums up the Lynx's offensive woes. Within a furious few seconds, Tamika Catchings blocked Moore twice on layup attempts and Erlana Larkins stuffed Rebekkah Brunson on a 6-foot jumper.

Strange series

Indiana leads the Lynx 13-12 in their all-time series. What's unusual is the visiting team's continuing success. The road team has won 10 of the past 12 meetings, counting Sunday's game.

Etc.

• Larkins' 15 rebounds and seven offensive Sunday were both one shy of the WNBA Finals record. McWilliams-Franklin had 16 rebounds for Connecticut in an overtime game against Sacramento on Sept. 15, 2005. Erika de Souza of Atlanta had eight offensive rebounds against the Lynx on Oct. 7 of last year.

• Catchings was 6-for-6 at the free- throw line. She already held the career record for free throws in WNBA postseason play and now it has increased to 221. With her 20 points, Catchings is fourth in career scoring in the playoffs with 723. Douglas, her teammate, is third with 730. McWilliams-Franklin is fifth with 698.

Last word

Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve on Game 1 loss:

"We got outphysicaled, we got out-toughed, and that's probably the most disappointing part."

Damian Lillard scored seven of his 18 points in the final 3:16, and the Portland Trail Blazers overcame a 16-point second-half deficit to break their five-game losing streak, beating the Miami Heat 102-95 on Wednesday night.